N.Z. Rifle Association.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 217, 14 March 1895, Page 2

N.Z. Rifle Association.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, March 13. Everything" is in readiness for the opening' of the thirty-fourth annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association meeting' to-morrow and the camp to-night is very lively with competitors arriving and fixin» wp quarters. Upwards ot seventy tents have been pitched, yet accommodation i is taxed to the utmost, and in some instancps there is overcrowding*. The new regulations as to depositing 1 half cost of a week's catering* has, no doubt, had a salutary effect, and this year few of the competitors are living out of camp. The weather to- eight is perfect, and shootists generally admit that if it continues some great scoring will be registered. The range is in better condition than that at- either the 1893 or 1894 meeting. The entry list is not complete, but Mr Baggetfc, tbe Secretary, expects that it ■will fully roach 220. Major Somerville is in charge of the camp and has Captain Collins, of Wellington, with him as chief of the council. General regret is expressed that Mr Jas. Parslow, of Auckland, an ex-cham-pion and one of the most popular shoot- \ ing men in the colony, should have been injured a day or two ago in camp while wrestling, and it is not improbable that the nature of his injuries may compel his absence from the competition. The shooting is fixed for 10 a.m., but is more likely to be about noon when the first shot is fired. This Day. Parslow is much improved and will be able to shoot. The entries up to 10 o'clock were 195, of which 109 are Rifle dub members, an<3 88 volunteers. The ex-champious shooting at the Meeting are : _w. Ballinger, Wellington, 1879 ; O'Key, Taranaki, 1880 ; Ross, Napier, (carbine) 1884, 1886, and 1888 ; Churfcou, Wanganui, 1884 ; White, Auckland, 1887; Parslow, Auckland, 1889; Williams, Wellington, 1890 ; Kruse, Wanganui, 1891 ; Doughty, Auckland, 1892 ; A. Ballinger Wellington, 1893 ; Smith, Dunedin, 1894. At 11 o'clock the shooting began with the 200-yards range of the Nelson match (not counting for the belt). A fresh north-west wind is blowing, with a changeable light. The new rule, which permits competitors the option of counting either both his sighters or only his second sighter, is much appreciated and largely taken advantage of. So far there has been no complaints against the ammunition, and the marking is very good. The chief scorers at the range were : — Anderson (Wanganui), Robinson (Lyttelton), Green, Wood, and F. Wilkie (Upper Hutt), KiDg (Oamaru), each 34 ; Kruse (Wanganui), Kemsdey (Napier), Chapman (Wairoa), A. Humphries (New Plymouth), Perry (Alexandra Cavalry), Kerkland (Rivertou), Dougherty (Auckland), Burns (Karori), each 33 ; Smith (Southland), and Paine (Petone) have the unenviable position of being the lowest scorers, each with two.